Isaiah 46 10

“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” 

   Relevancy as a noun means, “Pertinence to the matter at hand.” Relevant is an adjective meaning. “Having a bearing or connection with the matter at hand.”

   Some things are just old and some things are ancient or venerable. The word venerable. means “commanding respect by virtue of age, dignity, character, or position; worthy of reverence; especially by religious or historical association.” The Bible is definitely venerable for it has always, it does, and it will continue to demand the highest respect!

   The Bible applies as much today as when it was written. It still speaks with final authority on all human issues because it was written directly to the human race which God created. When God speaks, men had better listen even if it was two thousand years ago. “Speak; for thy servant heareth.”

   Another good title for this article is “The Venerability of the Ancient Scriptures” If any verse in the Bible makes it relevant for all time it is II Timothy 3:16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. The entire Bible was directly breathed into its writers by God thus making it profitable. Any time you read a verse it is, “Thus saith the LORD!”

   It happened much like the computer programs which print the words that you speak into a microphone on the screen. Psalms 45:1 My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. God spoke the words through the inspired writers. The words of the scriptures literally came off the tip of God’s tongue. His spoken words literally became His written words which was centuries before computers. Therefore the Bible applies to us as much as it did to King David. God was centuries ahead of the times just as He is eons ahead in the 21st century. Inspiration of the Bible started around 1,500 BC thus putting God’s technology 3,500 years ahead of man’s. We are still way behind God when we look at the Bible and see the great future ahead of us. In 3,500 more years God will still be ahead of us and His Word will be just as relevant as it was when it was written. Man, saved man that is, will spend eternity trying to catch up with God and His Word. We just cannot possibly understand the depths and the impact of the wisdom of God. Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

   Some make light of those in the past. If those in the past were submissive to truth they were still ahead of modern day thinkers. God must make light of these modern religious people who are so far behind the future that they will never catch up. Modern day contemporaries need to get back to the future by getting back to God’s Word. Are you behind the times by being a temporary contemporary. If you are future generations will be making light of you. Get with God’s program and no generation past or future will make light of you in the coming eternal ages.

THE ANCIENT SCRIPTURES ARE REVELANT BECAUSE THEY ARE PERMANENT, ETERNAL, AND NEVER CHANGE Psalms 119:89 ¶ LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Psalms 119:152 ¶ Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.

   One of man’s biggest problems is that he fails to realize that time which is only temporary never affects the eternal things of God. Forget “old school” and “new school” (which is just as temporary as “old school”) which doesn’t phase God nor His eternal plan nor His eternal Word. After centuries and centuries of time it is still: “Thus saith the Lord GOD!” THE END IS SET! Isaiah 46:10. “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” Read your Bible and catch up with the times because that is the way it will always continue to be. Quit wasting your time and your life trying to change God and His plan.

THE ANCIENT SCRIPTURES ARE REVELANT BECAUSE THEY ARE PERFECT. There are only two perfect things in this old world and that is the written Word of God and the Living Word of God, which is the Lord Jesus Christ. Perfection never changes. Therefore imperfect and sinful man should never attempt to change God’s Word. Revelation 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Sinful man cannot improve upon perfection. Neither can time!

THE ANCIENT SCRIPTURES ARE REVELANT BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONLY THING THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT USES FOR TEACHING AND FOR GIVING COMFORT. John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

   We learn truth when the Holy Spirit reminds us of what God has said in the scriptures, thus making the Bible as relevant today as in the day which it was written. Only the Holy Spirit can cure our learning disability. The Bible is still the only Christian text book in existence which is used by the Spirit of God.

   Do you need inner most help, do you need comfort in this world of woe? Do you need information or knowledge? The Holy Spirit only uses the scriptures!

   The Holy Spirit came in an extraordinary way nearly 2,000 years ago on the day of Pentecost and He is still here in that same capacity to comfort us and recall things from our memory. Yes, the things of Jesus and His ministry, His life, His words, His death, His burial and resurrection according to the scriptures, His ascension to heaven, and His work as our mediator before God are called to our attention by the inner workings of the Holy Spirit.

THE ANCIENT SCRIPTURES ARE REVELANT BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FUTURISTIC.

   The Bible was written hundreds of years before its time and since it is a futurist book it is still years ahead of its time. So start practicing the scriptures and live years ahead of this backward pragmatic age. Forget the things which are only temporary and lay hold of things eternal. Start accomplishing things and being prosperous in the spiritual realm and be ahead of the backward times in which we live. Live on the cutting edge. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword… For God’s sake, throw away all those paraffin swords (the modern perversions of the Bible) and pick up the one made of harden tempered steel which is the King James Bible.

   They call it new school. There is nothing new about it. It is only a different name for the same old rejection of the Word of God. Forget about being positive or negative and do all “according to the scriptures:” Positive or negative doesn’t matter as long as it agrees with the Bible.

   Spiritual accomplishments require spiritual methods. What’s it going to take to make pragmatics realize that the Word of God doesn't return unto God void. Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. It is the relevant scriptures that accomplish things; not men’s methods. It is the old time Word of God that has kept Baptists going for 2,000 years and not all of these cheap substitutes that are hindering real spiritual prosperity in the Baptist world.

   The scriptures apply to every and any situation in personal lives, in families, in church, in society, in school, in activities in government, and even in war. Don’t deal with things according to your own thinking but according to God’s thinking. Living by your own rules, your own thinking, and following your own path is pragmatism which is a practical, matter-of-fact way of approaching or assessing situations or of solving problems. In reality it is rebelling against God and His Word.

   The writing of the Bible was completed nearly two thousand years ago and in spite of its age it is still ahead of its time; therefore it still applies today and it will continuously apply through all eternity. Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Notice the word “shall.” Jesus did not say will, but “shall.” In other words the scriptures have no will of their own. They are subject to the will of the LORD and it is His predetermined will that they remain the same forever! my words shall not pass away. Those who have written new so-called Bible translations need to realize that it is utterly impossible for them to change the eternal written Word of God. They need to quit their impossible dreaming and face the facts of both modern day and future reality that truth is still found in the Old King James (not the New King James) which was translated directly from the original languages. John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. You will not change God, His Word, nor His eternal plan for truth is forever truth!

   This contemporary stuff is only temporary at best. It never lasts and it leaves behind many problems. Ancient philosophy books have been outdated for centuries yet the two thousand year old Bible continues to be relevant as it was the day that it was written. “Truth has no special time of its own. Its hour is nowalways.” -Albert Schweitzer Since truth is eternal it certainly applies to the present time.

    Once I was a shade tree mechanic. That means that I was pragmatic. I did things just any old way as long as they worked even if temporarily. Then I have known mechanics that did things by the manual that came out with the vehicles which was the best way to fix a car.

   The biggest problem in churches and in the ministry is that there are too many shade tree Christians and preachers. Just any old thing that seemingly works at the time and that they can get by with is done. Everyone wants to fit in with the in crowd. I had rather be out with the in crowd and in with God. Because of this Baptists are becoming extinct in America. A good faithful Baptist does everything according to the scriptures as Jesus did. Only things which are done according to the scriptures will last. Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. He was buried and He rose the third day according to the scriptures: The scriptures are the only manual that we have and it is all we will ever need. Do you follow the God inspired manual?

   The popularity of man made churches today is nothing but pragmatism. The non-denominationalism movement is nothing but shade tree Christianity at best. In the midst of the mess the voice of the Lord calls to those in this demonic inspired religious messes, Come out of her (Babylon), my people… He also says the same to those with only the Baptist name, break your ties and return to your roots which are found in my Word. Baptists come home!

   No one seems to have any respect for God, His infallible Word, nor His established church. Many are only interested in doing what they can get by with and it ain’t working. Or is it that they don’t really care??? One thing is sure: they have no respect for God nor His Word.

   Our way of approaching and dealing with situations and solving problems should always be according to the scriptures. You say the scriptures don’t always make sense. If you knew what God has always known absolutely everything in the Bible would make perfect sense! If you knew how much God respects those things done according to the scriptures you would do things His way. God knows what He is doing. Dealing with church problems should be according to the scriptures. Church discipline according to the scriptures has been avoided for too many decades.

   About the only people who get in trouble in church are those who want to go by the Bible. Years ago I had to deal with a church problem and I got into trouble, not with the man that I had to correct but with the members who sided up with him. Years later the one that was wrong apologized to me but the ones that stood up for him never did. These people who don’t want anyone corrected are bigger problems than the trouble causer. How many leading church members are the real cause of long lasting church problems because they think their contemporary temporary way is better than God’s eternal way.

   Too many church members interfere with the execution of the ancient Scriptures. This is especially true of families, mothers, grandmothers, church buddies, and lodge members. The ancient Scriptures are to overrule any human feeling or emotion or politicking or string pulling because human feelings and emotions are temporary even if they last a lifetime. Yes, the scriptures are still relevant when it comes to church discipline.

THE ANCIENT SCRIPTURES ARE REVELANT BECAUSE OF THEIR AUTHORITY Psalms 68:11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.

   The Bible originated in the heart and mind of an all knowing and all loving God entirely without any outside influence whatsoever. II Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

   There never has been but one right way and that has always been God’s way which continues forever. Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. The old paths are still the good way, they have always been, and will always continue to be. Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Since God never changes then the relevancy of His Word will never change. HIS WORD IS FINAL!

   Truth is straight as well as relevant therefore we are to walk a straight line by obeying His Word Isaiah 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

   Since His way is found in the pages of the Bible that makes the scriptures relevant today. Man’s way goes out of date usually after a few generations, but God’s Word is never out of date for any generation. Therefore, we Johnny come latelies have no business even questioning the relevancy of the inspired scriptures which have their origin before the foundation of the world. All man written books are quickly out dated for they are written in time. But the truths of the Bible were determined in the all knowing mind and heart of God in eternity past, therefore when time runs out and goes back into eternity the Holy Scriptures will be the only writings that matter.

THE BIBLE IS NOT ONLY REVELENT AT THE PRESENT TIME, BUT IT IS STILL CENTURIES AHEAD OF THE PRESENT ERA. 

   We still have the seven year tribulation period ahead of us as well as the Thousand Year Reign of Christ. This makes the Bible at least 1007 years ahead of its time. The Bible has always been a futuristic book and it will continue to be even throughout eternity because that is its main subject! Are you trying to fit in with the modern day religious contemporaries? If you are, quit being behind the times and live by the Bible and live on the cutting edge of theology by living ahead of the times. I don’t know about you but I’m already seated “in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” So forsake your backward, contemporary temporary ways, and worldly religious practices and live above the world by going by the BOOK!